"(The government) will consider what you've just said" in consultation with Washington, defense minister Kim Tae-young was quoted as saying by local media when asked by a lawmaker whether Seoul would consider bringing back U.S. nuclear weapons on its soil.

Kim said Seoul and Washington could discuss the issue in their Extended Deterrence Policy Committee meeting next month. The joint military committee by the two allies is aimed at bolstering security deterrence against Pyongyang.

The remarks came amid new concerns here over potential nuclear threats as Pyongyang reportedly showed a U.S. nuclear scientist a new and sophisticated facility to enrich uranium with centrifuges installed.

A U.S. envoy on the DPRK visited Seoul earlier in the day to discuss the issue with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and Seoul's representative on stalled nuclear disarmament talks.

The U.S., which has stationed some 28,500 troops here since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a truce, withdrew its tactical nuclear weapons in 1991 for nuclear arms reduction.

Washington has since repeatedly recommitted itself to defending South Korea, including keeping the country under the U.S. nuclear umbrella.